He missed out on the hangover from hell when he cancelled his stag do to answer Scotland’s call but Graeme Shinnie’s head is still thumping.

For the last few seasons, over and over, he has been wondering when he’s going to be given the chance to shine for his country.

It almost came last November when Holland visited Pittodrie only for interim boss Malky Mackay to keep him on the bench as the Scots went down 1-0 and the extended Shinnie family trooped home frustrated.

Shinnie’s head should finally clear in the small hours of tomorrow morning on the other side of the Andes when he takes up a place in the Scotland midfield he must have feared would never be awarded.

Scott Brown and Graeme Shinnie (Image: Getty Images Europe)

The 26-year-old is determined his international career under Alex McLeish will prove a marriage made in heaven just 10 days before he returns home to tie the knot with partner Jodie.

There will be partying in Peru these next few days as a football nation bids bon voyage to its players on route to their first World Cup finals since 1982. But it will be tame in comparison to Shinnie’s forthcoming celebrations on all fronts.

He said: “The Marbella stag is all off. The rest of the boys talked a good game about still going but didn’t and now they’re all texting saying they’re back at work.

“I was hoping the weather over here in Peru would be hotter – I wanted to go home to my wedding with a tan.

“We fly back after the Mexico game on Monday and I get married on the Saturday.

“It will be a monumental couple of weeks and hopefully I can go back with a couple of caps under my belt. It would set me up nicely then getting married and having a holiday will be the perfect summer.

“My missus says she has everything pretty much under control even though I can see on FaceTime the kids are running riot. She knows what it’s all about. There have been many times in the past when we’ve booked to go here and there and football has upset it.

“But she’s as desperate as I am for me to play for my country. She knows how much it means to me. She pushed me on to come out here because she wants it too.

“I never sat and expected to be in squads in the past – it was always in hope rather than expectation. If I was to get my first cap it’d mean everything, a massive highlight in my career.

“But the hard work never stops. You strive to get better and experience more and more.

“I’m not going to lie, that night against Holland was tough. The game was at Pittodrie, my family were there watching. I wasn’t embarrassed, more disappointed.

“I don’t know why I didn’t get on, maybe it was just the way the game was going as we were chasing a goal to get back in it. I would never have asked the manager to put me on. I’d rather get on through my performance level than trying to force the issue.

“It just made me even more hungry to get in and I’m here again now in the same boat, trying to win my first cap.

“I would never give up – it’s not in my nature.”

Shinnie has waited almost three years to try to become an overnight success with Scotland after Gordon Strachan handed him his first call-up in September 2015 for Euro qualifiers against Poland and Gibraltar. He played for the Under-21s when coming through the ranks at Inverness and if he lines up against Peru he’ll match brother Andrew, now at Birmingham, who took on Luxembourg six years ago.

Shinnie said: “It would feel unreal to wear that jersey and sing the national anthem.

Graeme Shinnie celebrates (Image: SNS Group)

“I don’t get caught up in expecting it but I’m desperate for it. Andrew has a cap but hasn’t given me any stick about not winning one yet. I’m sure deep down he wants to. I’ve been in a few squads so it would be a massive weight off my shoulders.

“And once you get your first it’s about progressing further to win as many as possible.”

Aberdeen have been the best of the rest for four seasons but that hasn’t always translated into international recognition.

Four with Dons links are on this tour – Shinnie is joined by Scott McKenna, Kenny McLean and Ryan Christie – although the latter two were on loan from Norwich and Celtic. Shinnie said: “I can understand why people would say Aberdeen players haven’t been recognised but we couldn’t complain because of the talent in the Scotland squad.

“I could see where people were coming from as Aberdeen had finished second best but the strength of the national squad had shown and we were very unlucky to miss out.

“It’s nice to get the recognition this time for the hard work I’ve put in and to be included with the likes of Scott, who has played in his first couple of appearances as if he has already won 40 or 50 caps. He has fitted in so well and that gives me confidence, seeing him going in at such a young age and with such self-belief.”